Constantly replacing PC hardware to keep up with the latest video games and software can be extremely expensive. A new mid-range GPU (RTX 3070 or RX 6800) can cost up to $600, while high-end CPU prices range up to $850.
With the frequent arrival of new CPUs and GPUs each year, it doesn’t make much financial sense to spend thousands of dollars annually.
Instead of switching hardware every year or every two years, there is also the option of overclocking your current PC parts to get the extra FPS you need or to cut down the time needed for productivity tasks.
To achieve that, you’ll require the appropriate overclocking software. In this guide, we’ll specifically focus on software for overclocking CPUs.
Let’s get started!
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Is A Custom CPU Overclock Worth it?
Prior to providing a long list of software, it is wise to think about whether overclocking is beneficial. Each CPU type is distinct, hence it is possible that your particular model may not receive significant boosts in performance from an OC.
Should you do it?
The answer depends on what is in your system. Older generations of both AMD and Intel CPUs may show a solid performance increase with a bump in core frequency. Some of the older generations do overclock pretty well.
Please remember that the results in the chart above are extreme overclocks achieved in optimal conditions with cooling using LN2. Still, it demonstrates that older processors with fewer cores can be pushed to reach substantially higher frequencies (with sufficient cooling).
To determine if this will be useful, you can try the overclock and then conduct a few tests. If you notice favorable improvements in stability and consistent temperature values, you can stick with your customized OC. Otherwise, you can go back to your CPU’s original settings.
It is also possible to check out other people’s OC experiences with the same CPU.
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Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) – Intel CPUs Only
The Pros:
- Intuitive user interfacernEasy to usernBuilt-in benchmark and stress test
The Cons:
- Works only for Intel CPUs
Intel’s and AMD’s processors are very different from one another, which is why a different type of software is needed to handle the overclocking.
Intel has its own software for overclocking, monitoring, and stress testing called Intel Extreme Tuning Utility or simply XTU.
What makes this software so good is its intuitive design, user-friendly interface, and overall ease of use. Of course, the actual process of overclocking is complicated, but the software can at least make things easier for you.
You can find all of the settings you need under Enhanced Tuning. Here, you can easily modify the ratio multiplier of all cores, and you can also experiment with the core voltage.
Be careful not to push the core voltage too high, as that can cause higher temperature values, leading to thermal throttling or even killing your CPU.
Another enormous advantage of this software is the fact that you can quickly switch over to the Stress Test and Evaluation tabs to check the stability of your custom OC.
If you find it challenging to use Intel XTU, you can watch plenty of videos and check out online guides for assistance.
AMD Ryzen Master Utility – AMD CPUs Only
The Pros:
- Extensive options for overclockingrnGreat for overclocking RAM toornBuilt-in stress testrnAuto-overclocking
The Cons:
- For AMD CPUs onlyrnNo benchmark to compare performance changes
Just as Intel has software for its CPUs, AMD also has one called Ryzen Master Utility.
Ryzen Master is just as intuitive and useful as the Intel alternative. Naturally, it only works with AMD CPUs.
Once Ryzen Master is expanded into its Advanced View, you will have access to voltage control, memory and memory voltage control, DRAM timings, configuration, and individual core multipliers.
Once you have selected one of the profiles, you can start adjusting your custom overclock. Expanding into Manual gives you the most extensive options. Here, you can adjust anything from core multipliers to boost overrides, PFT, TDC, EDC, etc.
Alternatively, you can use AMD’s self-boosting feature, which attempts to adjust those values and the core voltage automatically. Naturally, the self-boosting feature won’t be as good or efficient as making adjustments manually, but it’s still better than nothing.
This is especially wonderful when you think about the fact that Intel’s other option doesn’t provide this possibility.
It’s also a good idea to activate Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) which can be described as a more advanced type of automatic overclocking. This may provide improved performance without the need to spend time modifying overclocking configurations.
ClockTuner For Ryzen (CTR) – AMD CPUs only
The Pros:
- Fully automated overclocking and OC optimizationrnEasier to understand/use than Ryzen Master Utility
The Cons:
- Third-party software could lead to problemsrnLimited to Zen 3 and Zen 2 processors
Overclocking CPUs is not a straightforward task, and it may not necessarily be recommended. Regardless of how user-friendly XTU or Ryzen Master Utility gets, it will always remain a difficult endeavor to discover the ideal balance of voltage/frequency enhancements.
Fortunately, there is third-party software that can make things a bit easier for Ryzen users. ClockTuner For Ryzen (CTR) was developed solely by 1USMUS, the creator of the Ryzen DRAM Calculator. It is a useful tool for RAM overclocking.
Why use CTR rather than Ryzen Master? Well, as the overclocking procedure is completely automated, it makes for a much simpler experience for users with no prior overclocking knowledge.
It also provides settings for further custom OC customization.
With the click of a button, CTR can analyze your CPU to determine its “silicon quality,” which it will then use to figure out its overclocking potential. From there, CTR will play around with frequencies and voltages to deliver a solid overclock or maybe even an undervolt.
It will also conduct a few stress tests to ensure system stability.
The benefit of using CTR is that it could improve (or maintain) your CPU’s performance while substantially improving its energy efficiency.
Of course, 1USMUS has imposed restrictions/protection to ensure that your processor won’t exceed the voltage limits.
Keep in mind, even with those limitations in place, your processor is never hazard-free. Any kind of increase in core voltage could potentially lead to damage.
Note: CTR only supports Zen 3 (Ryzen 5950X, 5900X, 5800X, 5600X), Zen 2 (Threadrippers, Ryzen 3900X, 3800X, 3700X, 3600x and others) CPUs and APUs (Ryzen PRO 4750G, 4650G, 4350G).
If you want to fully utilize CTR and its customization options, refer to the 1USMUS guide.
BIOS Overclocking
Last but not least, there is overclocking with BIOS. The BIOS is part of every system’s motherboard, meaning it isn’t software you download and use on your operating system. Still, it is extremely useful and can be great for overclocking, so it is relevant to the question at hand.
However, BIOS can be far more complex to figure out as it is less instinctive. Some BIOS don’t even have support for a mouse, so you can imagine how poor the user interface can be. What makes things even worse is that every motherboard brand has a distinct style/design for its BIOS. Even models from the same brand can be quite different from each other.
This shouldn’t deter you from the notion of overclocking BIOS, as this is where you can attain the best possible overclock for your processor.
To access your BIOS, you will have to hit the suitable keyboard shortcut while your system is booting up. Usually, it is either Rename, F2, F10, or F12.
If you are struggling to grasp BIOS, we suggest consulting the motherboard’s manual or exploring videos elucidating the configurations of that particular version of the BIOS.
Conclusion
When it comes to overclocking CPUs, users are limited to a few programs. Given the effectiveness and accuracy of the software available, you won’t need anything else.
In the end, CPU and RAM overclocking are always best done via BIOS.
